LAMPMAN — The theft of six rental golf carts from the Lampman Golf Course has had a detrimental impact during the busy Saskatchewan Day long weekend.
The incident occurred just after midnight Aug. 2. Golf course president Blaise Fornwald said they have video footage from a business across the street that shows the suspects taking all of the course’s rental carts, which were to the south of the clubhouse.
“And then we have other video from the RM offices just to the north of the golf course, and that’s where they came onto the golf course with a truck and gooseneck trailer, and drove the carts up there and loaded them onto the trailer. We have video of the truck coming … empty and then going with the carts,” said Fornwald, who became aware of the theft when he arrived at the course at 8 a.m. on Aug. 2.
The golf course has obtained further footage of someone driving through Alida at 1:30 a.m. with the carts on the trailer. The videos have been turned over to the RCMP.
“We have a pretty good idea of who it was, and the RCMP has a good idea,” said Fornwald.
The carts had always been left outside at night, he said; the course locks them up with a chain. In the morning, they would be unlocked.
“It’s just an honour system. Whoever comes there, there are instructions out there for e-transfer or cash payment,” said Fornwald.
Power carts owned by the course’s members are locked and stored in a shed.
The course paid $6,000 for the most recent cart it purchased. All were used when bought, but Fornwald believes the total value of the carts would be around $30,000.
“The course is still open. Golfers can walk. Most members have golf carts, but for anyone else coming out there, there will be no cart rentals for now. It’ll just be walking,” said Fornwald.
A long weekend is typically a busy time for the golf course, and Fornwald believes the course is losing $500-$800 a day in cart rental and green fees.
There have been theft incidents in the past; Fornwald noted gas was stolen from the golf carts multiple times a few years ago. Locks were placed on the carts to prevent people from accessing the tanks, ending the problem. But he said this is the first time the golf course has encountered an incident to this scale.
Fornwald thanked people for their support since the cart thefts.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Estevan RCMP at 306-637-4400 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
